The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) is backing calls by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) for the Government to step in to ensure new rail rolling stock for Auckland is made in New Zealand.

The Ports of Auckland has been put on notice from Unions that it will have to train its own workforce rather than fly in staff from other ports.

The port company wants to transfer skilled labour from Wellington and Lyttelton to keep up with work after 12 weeks ago laying off a substantial number of workers.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Vice President Garry Parsloe says the situation is a result of the port company ignoring Union advice.

“They were told there were too many redundancies, and it would create a shortage of skilled workers. Now this has happened.”

He says that the Maritime Union would only agree for Unionised workers being transferred into Auckland if there was a written commitment from the Ports of Auckland to train a sufficient number of its own workforce.